"ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY· GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: THURSDAY MORNING, GOVERNOR WALZ STARTED HIS DAY WITH A VISIT TO THE MASKS-RECOMMENDED-BUT-NOT- REQUIRED MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT AND A HOST OF OTHER TOPICS, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

POSSIBILITY OF A SUPER SPREADER OUT THERE?

>> IN THE 14 DAYS AFTER THE STURGIS RALLY, WE SAW SOUTH DAKOTA WAS APPROACHING 500% INCREASE.

THE THING AT THE STATE FAIR I SAW AN AWFUL LOT OF FOLKS CARRYING MASKS WHILE ON THE BOULEVARD, THEY HAD THEM OFF, WHEN THEY WENT INTO BUILDINGS, THEY PUTS THEM ON.

WE HAVE AIR FAIRLY HIGH VACCINATION RATE AMONGST MINNESOTANS, CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE HIGHER, WE'LL MONITOR IT BUT THE DELTA VARIANTS ADDS TO OUR CONCERN.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT KIDS IN SCHOOLS?

>> VERY WORRIED ABOUT KIDS IN SCHOOLS.

THEY WEREN'T BE VACCINATED, OUR LITTLE ONES, AND WE KNOW THAT DELTA IS IMPACTING THEM.

IT'S KIND OF THE TIME MACHINE, IF YOU LOOK TO THE SOUTH, THIS HAS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT HIS PAN DID HE MEAN EX, OUR FUTURE IS WHERE THEY'RE AT RIGHT NOW AS THIS THING STARTS TO MOVE NORTH.

IF THE DELTA VARIANT FOLLOWS THAT SAME PATTERN.

AND WE'RE SEEING A LARGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN NOT JUST BECOME INFECTED BUT GET SICK AND END UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

GRANTED, IT'S A SMALLER NUMBER THAN WITH ADULT BUT IT'S STILL THERE, SO YES I AM CONCERNED, WHEN THEY CAN'T GETS VACCINATED, OUR ONLY PROTECTION IS MASKING, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MASKING.

>> Eric: WOULD YOU PREFER NOW TO HAVE EMERGENCY POWERS STILL IN PLACE OR ARE WE LIVING WITHOUT THEM?

>> WELL, WE'RE LIVING WITHOUT THEM BECAUSE I THINK THE ONE THING IS HOW POLITICIZED ALL OF THIS BECAME AND I'VE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, YOU NEEDED TO HAVE SOCIAL COMPLIANCE, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF THE MANDATES.

THE MANDATES HELP MAKES DECISIONS EASIER.

IT CREATES CERTAINTY ACROSS BROADER SPECTRUM BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW, OUR STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS, MEANING OURS, MDH, CDC, ALL THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL FOLKS ARE THAT WE BE MASKED IN SCHOOLS AND WE TRY TO KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCING, WE THINK ABOUT VENTILATION AND CERTAINLY HAVE ALL THOSE WHO HAVE ARE OF AGE TO GET VACCINATED, GET VACCINATED.

I'M NOT SURE WE WOULD SEE THE OUTCOME WE WANT JUST BECAUSE OF THE MANDATE, I THINK WITH THE JIG UP TICK IN VACCINIZES, IS THEY'RE SEEING HOW PRETTY SCARY THIS DELTA VARIANT IS AND HOW IT'S IMPACTING SOUTHERN STATES.

>> Cathy: THERE IS A MEDICAL FREEDOM RALLY TOMORROW AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

IF YOU WERE TO ADDRESS THAT GROUP, IT'S NOT EXACTLY YOUR CROWD BUT IF YOU WERE TO ADDRESS THE GROUP, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?

>> I CERTAINLY RESPECT THAT.

I FALL ON THE SIDE THAT I DO BELIEVE PERSONAL FREEDOMS MATTER DEEPLY BUT THERE'S MANY THINGS WE DO FROM SMALLPOX VACCINATIONS TO OTHER THINGS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PROTECTING OTHER ATTENTION AND I WOULD TELL THEM I UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSONAL FREEDOMS BUT THIS IS THE SAME AS ASKING AND SAYING I CAN DRIVE AS FAST AS I WANT ON THE SIDEWALK BECAUSE YOU'RE CRIMPING MYSELF BY PUTTING E INTO A SPEED LIMIT.

OWN IF YOU'RE VACS NATURED, YOU CAN SPREAD THE VARIANTS HE ESPECIALLY TO THOSE THAT.

>> ' AND WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING YOU TO WEAR A MASK INSIDE WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATES AND TRY TO GET THIS VACCINE HAS HAS PROVEN TO BE INCREDIBLE LIE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND IT CHANGES THE WHOLE CALCULUS, SO I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS TO FIGHT AROUND FREEDOM, KEEPING YOUR NEIGHBOR O THAT.

WE'VE ALWAYS STRUCK THAT BALANCE BETWEEN PERSONAL FREEDOM AND SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY.

>> Eric: HOP AROUND TO OTHER ISSUES.

THE AFGHAN REFUGEE, 35 HERE, 35 COMING?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, WE HAVE 35 IN STATE, MINNESOTA HAS A LONG TRA DIVISION, WE WERE DISCUSSING AS FAR BACK AS GOVERNOR QUIE ACTUALLY HOUSED REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AT THE RESIDENCE AND SO MINNESOTA HAS BEEN A LEADER IN THIS.

I FEEL REAL STRONG SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

I HAVE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN THROUGH FOUR ADMINISTRATIONS.

ASKING WHAT THE END STATE WAS AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOLKS WHO STOOD BY US REGARDLESS IF I FEEL LIKE THERE WASN'T AN IN STATE ON THE WAR ON TERROR, THESE FOLKS STOOD Y US AND WE NEED TO HAVE THEM.

34 MORE ARE ON THE WAY.

>> Cathy: THERE ARE ABOUT 100 MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS IN AFGHANISTAN.

WERE ANY INJURED IN THAT SUICIDE BOMBING?

>> WE CAN'T SPEAK WITH CERTAINTY AT THIS POINT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WE'VE BEEN THIS CONTACT WITH THEM.

I SPOKE WITH GENERAL MINKE AND HIS TEAM EARLY TODAY THAT WE'RE VERY -- WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WERE NOT BUT WE CAN'T SPEAK WITH CERTAINTY ON THIS UNTIL ALL FAMILY MEMBERS ARE KNOTS IF I HAD.

THAT'S A TOP CONCERN FOR US.

THIS TRAGIC SITUATION, AND IT WILL, I THINK, MOST OF US RECOGNIZE THIS VOID THAT WILL BE CREATED WILL GET WORSE AND I THINK IT'S HARD FOR AMERICANS TO -- MANY HAD FORGOTTEN WE WERE STILL AT WAR OR WE HAD FOLKS THERE AND NOW AS WE PULL THIS THING OUT, YOU SEE THIS VOIDS BLOWS UN.

>> Eric: THE MONEY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, I'M WONDERING IF MORE MONEY IS GOING TO NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF UNIONS THAT ARE COUNTING ON A D.F.L.

GOVERNOR TO MAKE IT A MEANINGFUL PAYMENT TO THEM.

IS THERE MORE MONEY TO THROW IN?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO, AND GO BACK TO THIS, IN EARLY COVID WITH NO VACS SCREENINGS AND NO PROTECTION, WE WERE ASKING FOLKS WHETHER THEY BE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, HEAT CARE WORKERS, LONG-TERM CARE, GROWSRY STORE EMPLOYEES, TO PUTS THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY AT RISK TO MAKE SURE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WERE DELIVERED TO US.

AND NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID OH DO SOME THINGS, STIMULUS CHECKS AND THINGS LINING, THAT I THINK THIS IS A STATEMENT THAT THE RECOVERY ACTS DOLLARS WERE MEANT TO GO TO THE PEOPLE MOST IMPACTED BY COVID.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER IN MINDS WHERE, YOU KNOW, 00 ISN'T ENOUGH, 500 IS THE RIGHT NUMBER?

>> NO, I DON'T.

WHAT I'M SAY, I THINK THIS IS A POSITIVE THING.

THE GROUP THAT'S WORKING ON THIS AND PART OF OUR ADMINISTRATION, PART OF THE HOUSE, PART OF THE SENATE, BIPARTISAN, THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THESE THINGS AND THE CONVERSATIONS COMING OUT OF THOSE ARE VERY HEALTHY.

I SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, I THINK WE NEEDED TO VIEW THIS AS THE FIRST ROUNDS BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THAT WHAT WE DO WILL BE ENOUGH OR BROAD ENOUGH.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO VIEW THAT -- BECAUSE WE'RE STILL SITTING ON THE $1.3 BILLION OF RECOVERY DOLLARS AND OUR PENSION FUNDS AND EVERYTHING ARE THE STRONGEST THEY HAVE REBEEN PROBABLY EVER, SO THE STATE IS FINANCIALLY IN A STRONG PLACE.

THOSE RECOVERY DOLLARS WERE NOT MINUTES TO SUPPLEMENT STATE SPENDING ON OTHER THINGS, THEY WERE MEANT TO HELP OLKS OUT SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO VIEW THAT AS LONG TERM.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF SPENDING, SPECIAL SESSION IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE MID-SEPTEMBER.

WILL THERE BE RELIEF PACKAGES FOR FOLKS IMPACTED BY THE FOREST FIRES AND ESPECIALLY FARMERS IMPACTED BY THE DROUGHT?

>> I HOPE, SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, IN PETERSON, DENTS OF AGRICULTURE, WITH THE GROUPS.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY FARMERS AND RANCHERS, REPRESENTING THE CORN-GROWERS AND ALL THAT, THIS IS AN UNPRESENTS ACCIDENTED DROUGHT.

TO BE CANDID, I SERVED ON THE AG COMMITTEE AND ROTE THREE FARM BILLS, ESPECIALLY IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE, IT'S NOT REAL STRONG SO I THINK THERE IS A PACKAGE WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER.

MY HOPE IS THE SPECIAL SESSION WOULD DO THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND THEN DO THIS PACKAGE ON THE RELIEF AND YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE FIRES, WE'VE GOT FOLKS LOSING HISTORICAL FAMILY CABINS AND OUT BUILDINGS AND THINGS.

>> Eric: A LITTLE POLITICS AND POLICY HERE.

YOU'RE URGING A NO VOTE ON THE MINNEAPOLIS CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REPLACE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND NOT HAVE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF FLOOR OF HOW MANY POLICE OFFICERS TO HAVE.

NOW, THIS TELLS ME A COUPLE OF THINGS, OLITICAL LIE.

ONE IS THAT THE KIND OF THE REIMAGINE THE POLICE, DISMAY NOT I WILL THE POLICE IS NOT A GREAT ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS.

AND THE SECOND PART WOULD BE THAT YOU DON'T REALLY EXPECT A D.F.L.

CHALLENGER FROM YOUR LEFT.

AM I GETTING WARM?

>> I WOULD NEVER SPIKE ON, THAT EVERYTHING CAN HAPPEN AND THAT WILL HAPPEN.

I SPOCK ON THIS, TO BE CLEAR, THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS WILL MAKE THAT' DECISION.

I'M NOT A RESIDENTS OF MINNEAPOLIS, I SHOULD BE CLEAR ON THAT.

THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE AND I FEEL VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE BOTH AROUND REFORMS, MORE TRANSPARENCY, MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS LOOKING INTO THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE BUT ALSO IN LEARNING AND MAKING SURE OUR STREETS ARE SAFER, MAKING SURE THAT WHICH HAVE PEERSFUL FIRST AMENDMENT DEMONSTRATIONS BUT ALSO.

CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE.

WHAT I SAILED IS THE COME MEMBERS TEE OF DOING IN, I DON'T BELIEVE YOU SHOULD SENDS POLICE TO EVERY SITUATION WHEN YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

WE NEED TO GET SMARTER AND DO THIS BETTER.

I SIMPLY DON'T THINKS YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT THROUGH A REFERENDUM AND THE WORDING YOU CAN'T AGREE ON AND YOU'RE ASKING FOLKS TO MAKE A DECISION THIS BIG.

THAT'S WHY WE ELECT PEOPLE, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE BOARDS WE SIT ON, AND HAVE THRONG DEBATES AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT NEW POLICIES IN PLACE.

I'M NOT CERTAIN YOU DO IT THIS WAY IN THIS MOMENT.

>> Cathy: WHY GET INVOLVED IN CITY POLITICS?

>> I GOT ASKED THE QUESTION HOW I FELT U AND I FEEL THE NEED, YOU'VE SEEN ME BE HERE TO ANSWER THIS, I'M NOT THE POLICE FORCE, I'M NOT THE POLICE COMMISSIONER OF MINNEAPOLIS AND THE STATE PATROL IS FOR THE TRUNK HIGHWAYS, NATIONAL GUARDS ARE NOT POLICE AND THINK DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO DO SO BUT AS WE'VE SEEN THE STATE'S THERE TO TRY AND HELP AND THIS ISSUE IS HELPING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I SIMPLY GOT ASKED AND I SAID I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY.

I THINK IT CUTS OFF THE DEBATE ON I REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AROUND POLICE REFORM, PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Eric: WONDERING IF YOU AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN MAY DISAGREE ON THIS AND I WONDER IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT SHE'LL BE YOUR RUINING MATE IN 202?

WELL, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS NOT ONLY A DEAR FRIENDS, SHE'S A CHAMP ONLY ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES OF OUR CHILDREN AND SHE SPEAKS HER CONSCIENCE.

I THINK THOSE AROUND ME, I DON'T SURROUND MYSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPECTED TO ANSWER JUST DIRECTLY TO ME.

>> ric: WILL SHE BE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ON THE TICKET, TO?

>> SHE WILL BE.

AND YOU CAN ASK HER HOW SHE FEELS ON THIS ONE.

I THINK WE'VE KNOWN THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DECISION THAT IS WE MAKE.

WE HAVE HEALTHY DEBATES, BOTH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND MYSELF AND THE TIME ARRANGED ME, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE COME TO EXPECT.

I, DURING COVID, THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE VERY HARD DECISION BUT EXPERTS THAT I TRUST, LIKE JAN MALCOLM SAID THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND I WILL GO WITH THAT.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CASE, AND I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR DECISION ATTENTION BUT I'M CERTAINLY GLAD WHEN IT COMES TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SHE'S MY CHIEF ADVISE UNIVERSITY SHE'S THE ONE WHO PROVIDES THAT AND I DON'T THINK YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO'S NOT WILLING TO CHALLENGE YOU ON THINGS.

AND SHE CERTAINLY WILL.

>> Cathy: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT LINE 3.

SOME OF THE PROTESTERS WERE USHERED OFF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS TODAY AND SOME WERE SAYING THEY FELT KIND OF SOLD OUT BY THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION ON THIS ISSUE.

YOU WERE TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUE ON MPR NEWS TODAY AND YOU SAID THAT YOU COULDN'T -- YOU REALLY COULDN'T GET -- YOU COULDN'T FORESTALL LINE 3 BECAUSE OF STATE LAW.

>> CAN'T.

>> Cathy: IS IT COULDN'T OR WOULDN'T BECAUSE OF THE POLITICS OF THE ISSUE?

>> NO, THE STATE HAS PROCEDURES FOR HOW WHERE HE PERMIT EVERYTHING FROM FEEDS LOTS TO, IN THIS CASE, PIPELINES.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION THAT MAKES THOSE DETERMINATIONS SO THEY'RE REMOVED FROM POLITICS AND THEN IT GOES THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE AND THEN, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT, YOU CHALLENGE IT IN COURT.

AND HIS WAS CHALLENGED IN DISTRICT COURTS, CHALLENGED APPEALS COURT, CHALLENGED AT THE SUPREME COURT.

SO WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT, THE FACT OF THE MATTER S I HAVE TO FOLLOW THOSE RULES.

WHAT I HAVE MADE THE INDICATION OF S, I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND I HAVE A VERY STRONG RECORD OF MOVING THAT.

IT DOESN'T MEAN DURING THIS TRANSITION PHASE THAT WHICH SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE FOSSIL FUELS UNTIL WE GETS OURSELVES MOVED AWAY FROM THAT.

SO I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT WE DID THIS RIGHT.

THE COURTS UPHELD US ALL ACROSS THE WAY.

I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATIONS BUILT WHAT I TELL PEOPLE IS, IF YOU REALLY DON'T LIKE THIS PIPELINE, IT'S NOT SUPPLY, IT'S NOT THE ISSUE, DEMAND IS THE ISSUE.

CUT DEMAND AND THE SUPPLY WON'T MATTER.

>> Eric: JUST 30 SECONDS LEFT.

GOVERNOR PERPICH USED TO SAY TWO THRIPS TO THE NEAR AND I KNOW HOW I'M DOING POLITICALLY.

DID YOU DETECTIVE A SENSE YESTERDAY?

>> YEAH, IT WAS VERY POSITIVE.

ONE THING I THINK S FOLKS FELT RELIEF, THERE WAS GRATITUDE, THAT'S WHAT I FELT LIKE AND FOLKS I THINK, YOU KNOW, EXPRESSED THAT.

>> Eric: WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ANNOUNCE?

>> WHAT'S THAT?

>> Eric: WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ANNOUNCE YOUR PLANS HERE?

>> SOON.

I THINK WE WANT TO GET SCHOOL STARTED, MAKE A DECISION ON THAT BUT I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT AND THESE DECISIONS I GOT ASKED, THIS WASN'T MEANT TO BE EASY BUT IT WAS MINUTES TO DELIVER RESULTS FOR MINNESOTA AND I THINK WE HAVE.

>> Eric: WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

THANKS, GOVERNOR.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

NOT MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN PART OF THREE DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTY IDENTIFICATIONS IN ONE CAREER.

SENATOR DAVID TOMASSONI IS AN INDEPENDENT-MINDED LONGTIME LAWMAKER.

THE 68-YEAR-OLD FROM CHISHOLM IS CURRENTLY THE HIGHER EDUCATION CHAIR, A POSITION HE INTENDS TO HOLD AS HE BATTLES A TERRIBLE DEBILITATING DISEASE.

POLITCAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TALKED WITH TOMASSONI IN AN HONEST AND CANDID CONVERSATION AT THE CAPITOL ABOUT HIS DIAGNOSIS.

>> Mary: SENATOR TOMASSONI STARTED SERVING IN THE HOUSE IN 1993 AND THEN INTO THE SENATE.

THESE DAYS E THINKING A LOT ABOUT HIS TENURE IN POLITICS.

>> EVERYONE LIKES THIS GRETZKY PICTURE BUILT I LIKE THE ONE OF ME AND BIDEN ON AIR FORCE TWO.

>> Mary: THE IRON RANGER ALWAYS RAN AS A DEMOCRAT AND THEN JOINED THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND GIRLLY I.D.s AS AN NDEPENDENCE.

DOES THIS MEAN YOU'LL BE A DEMOCRAT AGAIN?

>> I NEVER QUIT BEING A DEMOCRAT.

MY SHOULDER IS STIFF, MY ARMS ARE GETTING WEAKER, AND I NEVER REALLY NOEL HOW MY VOICE IS COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH BECAUSE IT EELS LIKE I GOT MARBLES INSIDE.

BUT I -- I DON'T FEEL SICK.

>> Mary: TOMASSONI HAS A.L.S., AN INCURABLE DEGENERATIVE DEAD LIE DISEASE.

>> PUTTINGS SHAVING CREAM ON MY FACE IN ORDER TO GET IT ON MY NECK, I HAVE TO TURN MY HAND WITH THIS LAND AND GO LIKE THAT BECAUSE THAT ABILITY -- THIS FINGER IS BENT, I CAN STRAIGHTEN IT.

BUT I'M DOING OKAY.

I CAN'T COMPLAIN.

>> Mary: WHAT'S THE PROGNOSIS, WHAT DO THE DOCTORS SAY?

>> WELL, THEY DON'T KNOW.

>> Mary: WE SHARE A NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE AND I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH M.S., WHEN THEY SAID TO ME, I'M GLAD IT'S NOT A.L.S.

THEY SAID M.S.

IS EASIER NEWS TO DELIVER.

THOSE LETTERS ARE SCARY, AREN'T THEY?

>> WHEN I WAS WATCHING A CHIC FLICK ONE NIGHT, I STARTED CRYING AT THE END OF IT AND I THOUGHT, WHAT IN THE WORLD, CRYING AT THE END OF A CHIC FLICK?

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A BIG, TOUGH HOCKEY PLAYER, RIGHT?

YOU CAN'T CRY AT THE END OF A CHICK FLICK.

>> Mary: QUITE THE STASCH, HUH?

>> AND HAIR, TOO.

>> Mary: TOMASSONI IS A PROUD, TOUGH, LIKEABLE LAWMAKER, I'VE COVERED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

HE EMBRACES HIS HERITAGE THAT CREATED AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY IN HOCKEY, A HISTORY THAT NEVER HURTS IN POLITICS IN THE STATE OF HOCKEY.

>> I WAS PLAYING FOR THE ITALIAN NATIONAL TEAM BUT THIS WAS THE GROUP A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1982.

>> Mary: THE DEFENSIVE MAN STUDIED GRETZKY'S MOVES TO CHALLENGE HIM ON THE ICE WHEN THE CHANCE CAME.

>> HE'S ALREADY LOST THE PUCK AND ABOUT TO GO DOWN IN THIS PICTURE.

>> ary: THE LAUGHING AND TEARS COME MORE FREQUENTLY NOW, A SYMPTOM OF A.L.S., ESPECIALLY WITH THE EMOTIONAL OUTGO POURING OF SUPPORT.

>> FOR SOME REASON, I JUST BREAK DOWN CRYING.

IT'S LIKE... WOW, PRETTY NEAT.

>> Mary: PRETTY NEAT IN SUCH A PARTISAN, TOXIC TIME IN POLITICS.

>> I MAY HAVE ONE NEGATIVE COMMENT ON ANYTHING AND... >> Mary: IT'S OKAY, TAKE YOUR TIME, WHATEVER YOU NEEDS, WE'RE HERE.

>> THE DRUG'S NOT WORKING.

>> Mary: IT'S OKAY.

TOMASSONI IS TAKING MEDICATION TO TRY TO CONTROL THE UNCONTROLLABLE EMOTIONS OF A.L.S..

HE WENT TO MEXICO FOR STEM CELL TREATMENTS, IS TRYING HOLISTIC OPTIONS AND IS HOPING TO GET INTO A MEDICAL TRIAL.

>> AS YOU GO THROUGH POLITICS, YOU DO A REAL LOT.

SOME PEOPLE LIKE IT, SOME PEOPLE DON'T BUT AFTER BEING IN IT FOR 30 EARS, YOU REALLY CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS YOU DID.

>> Mary: THINGS HE DID FOR THE MINING AND PAPER INDUSTRIES, EDUCATION, SENIORS, VETERANS, WORKERS, WHO HE ALL ADVOCATED FOR ALONG THE WAY.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS AFTER ALL HESE YEARS.

>> THANKS.

>> Mary: YEAH, YOU DO.

SOME PEOPLE BUILD UP ENEMIES, SOMEHOW YOU SWITCHED CAUCUSES AND BUILT FRIENDS.

>> DIDN'T LOSE THE OLD ONES, EITHER, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU REALIZE THAT YOU'VE AFFECTED PEOPLE'S LIVES AND -- IN A REAL POSITIVE WAY.

>> Mary: TOMASSONI INTENDS TO CONTINUE TO EFFECTS PEOPLE'S LIVES, WORKING AT THE CAPITOL AS LONG AS HE'S ABLE.

>> MEMBERS, THE 2021 COVID ADVENTURE BEGINS.

>> Mary: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS YOU DO AND ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE TOUCHED, WHAT DO YOU THINK LOOKING AT YOUR CAREER AND YOUR LEGACY TWO DECADES HERE, WHAT'S THE LEGACY?

>> I THINK I TREATED PEOPLE KINDLY.

I DON'T KNOW, I THINK MAYBE MY LEGACY AT THE LENDS WILL BE I WAS SOMEBODY THAT WORKED WITH EVERYBODY AND I THINK THAT'S -- THAT STANDS UP.

♪♪ >> CATHY: ON TUESDAY, THE MINNESOTA STATE SUPREME COURT TURNED DOWN THE CHANCE TO HEAR AN APPEAL BY OPPONENTS OF THE ENBRIDGE LINE 3 OIL PIPELINE.

DESPITE YEARS OF COURT BATTLES AND PROTESTS, THE PIPELINE IS NEAR COMPLETION AND IS EXPECTED TO TRANSPORT OIL AS SOON AS NEXT MONTH.

ON WEDNESDAY, LINE 3 CRITICS RALLIED AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

BEFORE WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THIS WEEK'S RALLY, A REMINDER THAT WHILE ENBRIDGE IS A SPONSOR OF "ALMANAC," IT HAS NO SAY IN OUR EDITORIAL DECISIONS.

>> WE'VE COME TO TELL GOVERNOR WALZ AND JOE BIDEN THAT IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO PULL THE PERMITS.

[Cheering] >> I'VE SAID ALL ALONG THIS WALK THAT THIS IS NOT AN INDIGENOUS PROBLEM.

THIS IS A HUMAN PROBLEM.

>> WE ARRIVED HERE TODAY, WE WERE GREETED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FENCING AROUND THE CAPITOL AND THIS IS NOT HOW YOU ENGAGE WITH YOUR TREATY PARTNERS BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE TREATY'S INTENDED US TO LIVE IN PEACE AND PART OF THAT IS HAVING PEACE TALKS, AND SO THIS IS A BLOW TO WHO WE ARE AS NATIVE PEOPLE.

THIS IS A FORM OF OPPRESSION.

[SINGING] >> THIS IS A MOVEMENT OF EVERYBODY.

THIS IS A PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE HONORING SPECIFIC PEOPLE TODAY, REALLY WE'RE HONORING ALL OF US.

[Cheering] >> THEY'RE BEING HEARD BUT NOBODY IS REALLY DOING ANYTHING ABOUT T, LIKE, KIND OF FEELS LIKE WE'RE JUST SHOUTING INTO THE VOID.

FEELS LIKE THE POLITICIANS, LIKE, THEY CARE BUT IT'S LIKE NOTHING IS REALLY BEING DONE, LIKE THE PIPELINES ARE STILL BEING BUILT.

THEY'RE STILL MESSING UP THE WATER AND, LIKE, NOTHING'S REALLY BEING DONE BOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> THIS IS SO WRONG.

THIS IS SO WRONG AND SO HEART-BREAKING THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE SOLD OUT FOR A CANADIAN CORPORATION.

I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN THE ERA OF AUL WELLSTONE.

I GREW UP IN THE ERA OF PRINCIPLED LEADERS OF MINNESOTA WHERE YOU COULD HOLD YOUR HEAD UP AND SAY, YES, THEY'RE FROM MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW, AND WHERE IS THAT LEADERSHIP NOW?

WHERE IS THAT LEADERSHIP NOW?

>> CATHY: JONING US TO TALK ABOUT THE ONGOING OPPOSITION AND COURT BATTLES REGARDING LINE 3 IS KIRSTI MAROHN.

SHE'S A REPORTER WITH "MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO" NEWS.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: AS I MENTIONED IN THE INTRO, THIS PIPELINE IS NEARLY COMPLETE.

ANY OPTIONS LEFT FOR THE PROTESTERS?

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE OPTIONS ARE REALLY RUNNING OUT.

I MEAN, WE SAW TODAY AND THIS WEEK THAT THEY'RE REALLY NOT GIVING UP, THEY'RE STILL COMING OUT EN MASSE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AGAINST THIS PROJECT BUT IT REALLY SEEMS ALMOST INEVITABLE AT THIS POINT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED.

ENBRIDGE IS SAYING THEY'RE MORE THAN 90% COMPLETE NOW AND ACTUALLY THEY PLAN TO HAVE IT IN SERVICE BY THE 4th QUARTER OF THIS YEAR AND ACTUALLY THIS WEEK I WAS ON A CALL WITH ENBRIDGE TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRESS ON CONSTRUCTION AND THEY THINK IT COULD ACTUALLY BE IN SERVICE AS SOON AS SEPTEMBER 15th, SO, REALLY, SEEMS LIKE THE OPTIONS FOR TOPPING THIS ARE REALLY DWINDLING AT THIS POINT.

>> Eric: I WONDER IF THIS ENDS UP BECOMING A SYMBOL, THOUGH, FOR THE CLIMATE ACTIVISTS WHO KIND OF EMEMBER THE MAINE, REMEMBER THE ALAMO AND THIS BECOMES A SYMBOL OF WE LOST THIS ONE BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO GET 'EM THE NEXT TIME OR AM I BEING TOO GRANDIOSE HERE?

>> NO, I THINK THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO THAT.

THIS IS PART OF A TREND WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE THERE'S GROWING PUSHBACK TO THESE PIPELINE PROJECTS, NATURAL GAS AND OIL, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND TRIBES ARE STANDING UP AND RESISTING THEM MUCH MORE AND, YOU KNOW, WE SAW THAT THAT WAS EFFECTIVE IN THE KEYSTONE-XCEL CASE AND THE DAKOTA ACCESS, TO I THINK, YES, ALTHOUGH THIS -- THEY MAY LOSE THIS FIGHT, THERE'S THIS LARGER BATTLE OVER THESE PROJECTS THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED TRIBAL NATIONS.

THE WHITE EARTH BAND IS SUGGEST THE DNR OVER WILD RICE WHICH IS KIND OF A NEW APPROACH, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

IT'S PART OF THIS NEW SORT OF AREA OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CALLED RIGHTS OF NATURE AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ACTUALLY -- THE LAWSUIT WAS ACTUALLY FILED ON BEHALF OF MAHNOMEN OR WILD RICE AS A PLAINTIFF WHICH IS REALLY A NOVEL APPROACH.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT THIS PIPELINE PUTS INTO JIP DEWILD RICE HICH HAS A RIGHT TO EXIST AND TO THRIVE.

SO THIS WAS FILED IN TRIBAL COURT, THIS WAS THE FIRST CASE THAT WE FOUND THAT WAS OF THIS TYPE THAT WAS FILED IN TRIBAL COURT.

THERE'S BEEN A FEW OTHER CASES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES, AS WELL.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL, THE MINNESOTA DNR, WHICH WAS NAMED AS THE DEFENDANT HERE IS FIGHTING IT IN FEDERAL COURT.

THEY'VE GONE TO FEDERAL COURT TO TRY TO GET IT STOPPED SO WE'LL SEE HOW HAT PLAYS OUT BUT IT IS REALLY A UNIQUE APPROACH.

>> Eric: SIX YEARS OF REGULATIONS, PERMITTING, COURT ACTION, I'M WONDERING IF THE PERMITTING PROCESS IS SEEN AS CUMBERSOME, DOES IT NEED SOME TWEAKING OR... >> YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES ARGUE EITHER FOR R AGAINST THAT.

I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO SAY THE PROCESS WORKED IN THIS CASE, IT WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE HOOPS AND ENDED UP GETTING APPROVAL AND IS NOW BEING BUILT AND YOU'RE HAVING PEOPLE SAY THAT IT DIDN'T GET THE SCRUTINY THAT IT SHOULD HAVE.

ESPECIALLY I THINK WE HEAR THAT FROM CLIMATE ACTIVISTS WHO SAY THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SCRUTINY OF THE CLIMATE IMPACTS OF CONTINUING TO INVEST IN FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO HEARD THE OVERNOR SAY THAT THERE'S STILL THIS DEMAND FOR OIL THAT NEEDS TO BE TRANSPORTED.

>> Eric: I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT, IT'S CALLED THE OIL DEMAND FORECAST THAT ENBRIDGE HAS GIVEN OUT AND THE PROTESTERS DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT IS ACCURATE, IS THAT THE ISSUE?

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD FOR A WHILE OPPONENTS SAY THAT THEY DON'T THINK THIS NEW CAPACITY THAT THE NEW LINE 3 WILL PROVIDE IS NEEDED.

THEY'RE SKEPTICAL OF SOME OF THE FORECASTING THAT'S BEEN DONE.

THEY SAY THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, JUST AN ATTEMPT TO -- ENBRIDGE IS CALLING IT A REPLACEMENT PIPELINE BUT IT'S ALSO A LARGER PIPELINE SO IT CAN MOVE MORE OIL AND THEY DON'T THINK THAT EXTRA CAPACITY IS GOING TO BE NEEDED.

>> Cathy: WE'RE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THAT THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST INLAND OIL SPILL WAS NEAR GRAND RAPIDS IN 18981, WHEN CURRENT LINE 3 HAD A SPILL, OVER 7 'MILLION GALLONS OF OIL, I BELIEVE.

WHAT ARE THE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST SPILLS WITH THIS NEW LINE?

>> WELL, ENBRIDGE ARGUES THIS WILL BE A SAFER PIPELINE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE BUILT OF STRONGER, THICKER STEEL.

IT'S MODERN CONSTRUCTION METHODS.

THERE'S MORE TECHNOLOGY NOW TO ALERT THEM IN THE CASE OF A LEAK.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN THEIR MAIN ARGUE.

FOR WHY THIS PIPELINE SHOULD BE BUILT.

THEY'RE SAYING THE OLD PIPELINE WAS BUILT BACK IN THE 1960s, IT'S CORRODING, NEEDS EXTENSIVE MAINTENANCE AND ACTUALLY HAS HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF A LEAK OR SPILL.

YOU KNOW, OPPONENTS OF COURSE DISPUTE THAT AND THEY WORRY THAT THIS PIPELINE, BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE A SLIGHTLY NEW ROUTE THROUGH NORTHERN MINNESOTA, THAT IT OPENS UP A WHOLE NEW AREA OF THE STATE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SPILLS, A VERY WATER-RICH REGION WITH A LOT OF WETLANDS AND RIVERS.

>> Cathy: AROUND THEY'VE DRILLED UNDER IS NEAT CERTAIN RICHES?

>> THEY HAD TO, THIS CROSSES MULTIPLE RIVERS AND WETLANDS.

THEY HAD TO DRILL UNDERNEATH THE RIVER, IT'S CALLED HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING, THEY SAY IT'S S.A.F.EOR BECAUSE YOU ON'T HAVE TO INTERFERE AS MUCH WITH THE ACTUAL WATERWAY BUT THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT'S DONE.

THERE'S BEEN A FEW TIMES WHEN THERE IS A FLUID THAT'S USED, CALLED DRILLING MUD THAT'S BEEN RELEASED AND GOT SOUTHEAST SOME WETLANDS AND OPPONENTS ARE SAYING THAT'S EVIDENCE * EVIDENCE OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WERE AN OIL LEAK, THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE THAT COULD BE DONE.

>> Cathy: THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A STORY, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB COVERING IT.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR YOUR REPORTING ON THIS.

>> THANKS.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

>> KAOMI: THERE ARE MORE THAN 200,000 ADOPTED KOREANS IN THE WORLD, ADOPTED FROM KOREA AS CHILDREN FOR THE PAST 70 YEARS AND RAISED IN ABOUT A DOZEN COUNTRIES.

I'M ONE OF THEM.

MOST OF US WERE ADOPTED BY PARENTS OF ANOTHER RACE AND ADAPTED TO OUR NEW COUNTRIES AND CULTURES.

I LANDED IN MEADOWLANDS, MINNESOTA, DECADES AGO AS A SIX-MONTH-OLD INFANT.

BUT AS I'VE GOTTEN OLDER, KNOWING THE TRUTH ABOUT MY STORY AND MY FIRST FAMILY HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT.

THIS NEXT STORY IS A PERSONAL LOOK AS I GOT ONE STEP CLOSER TO UNCOVERING MY PAST.

WHERE MOST OF THE STATE?

DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND HALF THE STATE IN SEVERE DROUGHT- >> AS "ALMANAC'S GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTER, I USUALLY REPORT ON STORIES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

THIS STORY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

>> BECAME A CITIZEN.

>> 50 YEARS AGO, I WAS ADOPTED AS AN INFANT FROM SOUTH KOREA.

AND SENT TO A LUTHERAN PASTOR AND HIS WIFE IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

I THOUGHT I LEFT KOREA WITH JUST A NAME, A PRESUMED BIRTH DATE AND THE CLOTHES ON MY BACK.

WITH NO HOPE OF FINDING FAMILY.

LITTLE DID I KNOW, I ALSO HAD SOMETHING VERY POWERFUL.

MY DNA.

AND I'M NOT ALONE.

>> LIKE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE ADOPTED, OUR NEXT GUEST GREW UP NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT HIS BIOLOGICAL ROOTS.

>> JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, HE TOOK A 23 AND ME DNA TEST AND MADE A DISCOVERY THAT HAS CHANGED HIS LIFE FOREVER.

>> BEN HAS SPOKEN TO HIS HALF-BROTHER, JEFF, BUT THEY'VE NEVER MET FACE TO FACE, UNTIL NOW.

BEN, ARE YOU READY?

>> I'M READY.

>> JEFF, COME ON OUT.

>> YEAH!!

>> COMMERCIAL DNA TESTS HAVE BEEN CONNECTING RELATIVES TO EACH OTHER FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.

FOR CORINNA DOPTEES WHO OFTEN CAN'T ACCESS RECORDS OR BIRTH IDENTITIES, THE TESTS HAVE BEEN A GAME-CHANGER.

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OVER 12 MILLION CUSTOMERS AND ABOUT 80% *% OF THOSE HAVE FOUND A COUSIN OR CLOSER.

I THINK THIS INFORMATION IS INVALUABLE FOR EVERYONE BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR ADOPTEES, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE TYPICALLY ADOPTEES DON'T HAVE FAMILY HISTORY, WHETHER IT'S THEIR ANCESTRY OR HEALTH AND ACTUALLY CERTAIN AN SESSION TREES CAN PUT YOU AT A HIRE RISK FOR DEVELOPING CERTAIN DISEASES SO WE'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY CUSTOMERS, IT'S IMPACTED THEIR LIVES TREMENDOUSLY.

>> I TOOK 23 AND ME'S DNA EST FIVE YEARS AGO.

I SHARED THE RESULTS IN SOME OTHER DATABASES, AND THEN THIS SPRING, I GOT A MESSAGE.

SOMEONE N DENMARK THOUGHT THEY WERE MY HALF-SISTER OR NEICE.

AND LIKE ME, SHE WAS ALSO A KOREAN ADOPTEE.

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST TAKE A DAY AT A TIME.

>> WE DID MORE TESTS, ALL SIGNS POINTED TO HALF SISTERS BUT AFTER DENMARK OPENED TO VISITORS...

I DECIDED TO FLY AND MEET LISA BECK, BUT I WAS STILL NERVOUS.

HOW WOULD IT FEEL TO MEET A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN BIOLOGICAL SIBLING FOR THE FIRST TIME?

WOULD WE GET ALONG?

WOULD WE HAVE ANYTHING TO TALK ABOUT?

WOULD MEETING HER HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND MYSELF?

THEN, THE MOMENT HAPPENED.

>> I'M TEARING UP.

>> DID YOU WAIT A LONG TIME?

[INDOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONCERNIBLE CONVERSATION] >> WE GOT A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER FACE TO FACE.

I EARNED THAT LISA DECIDED TO DO A DNA TEST ON A WHIM.

>> EARLY MORNING, I LAID IN MY BED AND I WAS VERY TIRED AND I JUST TOOK MY PHONE OUT AND THEN, OH, WHAT -- I HAVE A SISTER.

I WAS SO CONFUSED AND EXCITED AT THE SAME TIME.

>> WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SAW ME?

>> I WAS AMAZED, I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I CAN SEE THE SIMILARITIES BUT I CAN'T PUT A FINGER ON IT, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, BUT I CAN SEE WE LOOK ALIKE, YOU KNOW, NOSE, MOUTH, CHEEKS AND SO ON, SO I CAN SEE -- >> MAYBE THE EYES, TOO.

>> YEAH, YEAH, SO I CAN SEE WE LOOK SIMILAR.

>> LISA AND I DON'T KNOW WHO OUR BIRTH PARENTS ARE.

FINDING EACH OTHER THROUGH DNA FEELS LIKE BEATING ALL ODDS.

OUR STORY WAS EVEN FEATURED ON NATIONAL DANISH TV.

>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

>> WELL, WE DID IT.

>> WE DID IT.

[Laughter] >> WE ALSO MET WITH KOREAN ADOPTEES IN DENMARK.

LIKE MINNESOTA, THERE ARE THOUSANDS HERE.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> LISA AND I HAD FUN GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER DURING THE SHORT VISIT.

BUT INSTEAD OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS, MEETING LISA CREATED MORE.

NOW THAT I KNOW ABOUT YOU, IT JUST MAKES ME START TO, YOU KNOW, GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE OF WHO WAS OUR FATHER.

IS HE TILL ALIVE?

DO WE HAVE OTHER SIBLINGS OUT THERE?

I'M ALSO VERY AWARE THAT MANY ADOPTEES DO NOT GET THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THAT ELPS ME TO KNOW HOW SPECIAL IT IS THAT WE DID FIND EACH OTHER.

♪♪ >> ONE OF MY "ALMANAC" BUCKET LIST ITEMS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO DO A MONOLOGUE FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

FOR YEARS, I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT DOING AN ESSAY ABOUT HOW THIS TIME AND THIS PLACE JOINS US AS MINNESOTANS REGARDLESS OF OUR POLITICAL INCLINATION NATIONS OR PHILOSOPHICAL STRIPE.

WELL, THIS YEAR IS THE YEAR, AND COVID WRECKED IT.

INSTEAD OF THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER, THIS YEAR'S EDITION OF THE FAIR BRINGS US CHAPTER 247 OF THE GREAT MINNESOTA MASK CONTROVERSY.

AND IF THAT WASN'T BUZZ SKILL ENOUGH, THE RUN UP TO THIS YEAR'S FAIR FEATURED YET ANOTHER LAWSUIT ARGUING ABOUT WHERE MINNESOTANS CAN AND CANNOT CARRY THEIR GUNS.

IT IS EXHAUSTING.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE BIGGEST BONE OF CONTENTION AT THE FAIR HAD TO DO WITH PRONTO PUPS VERSUS CORN DOGS.

NOW, THAT WAS A GOOD-NATURED ARGUMENT AMONG PEOPLE WHO AGREED THAT A HOTS DOG DIPPED IN BATTER AND THEN DEEP-FRIED WAS A GOOD THING.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE FINDING THAT KIND OF COMMON GROUNDS NOW AROUND IT IS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF COVID, AROUND GUNS, REALLY, AROUND ANYTHING.

WORSE, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE LOSING OUR PERSPECTIVE.

EVERY ARGUMENT THESE DAYS IS LIFE OR DEATH.

EVERY MOUNTAIN IS ONE WORTH DYING ON.

IT'S LIKE WAGING NUCLEAR WAR OVER CORN DOGS, PRONTO PUPS, WHATEVER.

IN ITS BEST MOMENTS, THE FAIR HELPS US TRANSCENDS ALL OF THAT.

FOR 12 DAYS, WE ARE UNITED IN OUR ENTHUSIASMS FOR CROP ART AND MIDWAY RIDES AND FARM ANIMAL BABIES.

THE BAD NEWS, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE THAT THIS YEAR.

THINGS ARE JUST TOO UGLY.

WE ARE JUST TOO UGLY.

THE GOOD NEWS, THE FAIR HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 162 YEARS.

IT HAS ENDURED WAR AND POLITICS AND PANDEMICS.

IT'S GOTTEN THROUGH ALL THAT.

IT WILL GET THROUGH THIS.

♪♪ >> ERIC: PATRICK COLEMAN LOVES BOOKS AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

HE CAN NOW COMBINE THESE TWO PASSIONS FULL TIME SINCE HE'S NOW RETIRED AFTER FOUR DECADES OF WORKING AT THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY WHERE HE HEADED THE ACQUISITIONS TEAM.

THE PLAYFUL IMAGE YOU ARE LOOKING AT, OF COURSE, IS A FAKE.

COLEMAN WOULD NEVER PUT VALUABLE BOOKS IN HARM'S WAY.

PATRICK COLEMAN JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT MINNESOTA BOOKS, MAPS, NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER THINGS HE HAS SPENT A LIFETIME BEING PASSIONATE ABOUT.

NOW, HOW DID A GUY WITHOUT A LIBRARY DEGREE GET THIS PRESTIGIOUS JOB?

[ Laughter ] >> WELL, I HINK A LIBRARY DEGREE WAS NOT NECESSARY FOR THIS NE LIBRARY POSITION.

WHAT THEY WANTED AS SOMEBODY WHO KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT MINNESOTA HISTORY AND THEY WANTED SOMEBODY MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE CONTENT OF THE BOOKS THAN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE BOOKS OR ACCESS THE KIND OF THINGS THAT LIBRARY SCIENCE TELLS YOU.

I WAS A CONTENT SPECIALIST, I GUESS IS THE WORDS.

>> Cathy: WHEN YOU'RE AT A COCKTAIL PARTY, WHAT DO YOU TELL PEOPLE?

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOB?

>> I GET -- I TELL THEM THAT I GET PAID TO DO WHAT THEY DO FOR FUN.

I GET TO READS THE "NEW YORK TIMES" REVIEW OF BOOKS AND THE STATE PAYS ME FOR THAT, SO... >> Eric: I THINK THE St. PAUL PAPER CALLED YOU THE INDIANA JONES OF COLLECTING?

[Laughter] >> WELL, I DO GET TO GO LOTS OF PLACES AND LOOK FOREMATERIAL.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT INTERNATIONAL ANT QUANTITY BOOK FAIRS IN BASEMENTS AND AT PARTICULARS, JUST THE USUAL PLACES BUT, YEAH, IT FEELS LIKE THAT SOMETIMES.

>> Cathy: WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS TV SO WE HAVE TO SHOW SOME PHOTOS SO LET'S PUT THEM UP HERE ON THE SCREEN SO YOU CAN LOOK AT THEM.

THIS LOOKS LIKE THIS IS DEFINITELY -- [Laughter] >> Cathy: A YOUNG PAT COLEMAN, QUITE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING?

>> YES, THIS IS A EEKLY ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE SO I WOULD, YOU NOW, GATHER, YOU KNOW, DOZENS OF BOOKS AND THEN HAVE TO PRESENT THEM TO AN ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE.

THIS WAS BACK WHEN EVERYBODY SMOKED CIGARETTES AT THE ACQUISITION ATTENTION COMMITTEE WITH ALL OF THESE RARE BOOKS SO... [Laughter] WE'VE GOTTEN BETTER.

>> Eric: DID YOU AVE TO GO OUT AND SEARCH OR DID DID YOU HAVE COME OVER THE TRANSOM?

>> A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

STUFF ALWAYS COMES N A LOT OF GENE ALLS, FAMILY HIS TREES COME IN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK TOO HARD FOR THOSE.

WHAT YOU DO HAVE TO WORK FOR ARE THE RARE BOOKS, THE EARLY MATERIAL, MAN YOU CRYPT -- MANUSCRIPT MATERIAL, THE KIND OF THING THAT WON'T WALK IN THE DOOR.

>> Cathy: THIS IS TRINITY COLLEGE, ISN'T IT, SPEAKING OF RARE BOOKS.

>> IT IS, GOOD CALL.

>> Cathy: BEAUTIFUL.

>> I WAS -- ALL MY VACATIONS ARE BUSMAN'S HOLIDAYS, I CAN'T NOT GO TO LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES AND HERE SINCE I WAS IN TOWN, I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ON A VERY STRANGE COLLECTOR, LOCAL COLLECTOR OF BOOKS WHO CALLED HIMSELF -- IN FRENCH HE CALLED HIMSELF THE KING OF BOOKS, SO... [Laughter] >> Cathy: YOU EVER I HAVE NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS, THIS IS INTERESTING, I LOVE NEWSPAPERS, OF COURSE.

IS THIS -- WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS A TERRITORIAL NEWSPAPER PRINTED IN -- AT CAMP RIPLEY OR FORT RIPLEY, MINNESOTA TERRITORY AND LIKE ALL SOLDIERS, THEY HAD TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH EQUIPMENT SO INSTEAD OF MOVING MOVEABLE TYPE, THEY USED A JACK KNIFE AND CARVED ALL THESE LETTERS ON A BOARD AND PRINTED A FOUR-PAGE NEWSLETTER FROM CREDIT CARD WOOD.

SO IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY THING.

LIKE A LOT OF THINGS AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, IT'S ONE OF A KIND, UNIQUE, THERE ISN'T ANOTHER COPY OF THIS OUT THERE.

>> Eric: DO THEY JUST SETS YOU LOOSE WITH THE CHECKBOOK OR DO YOU HAVE AN UPPER LIMIT OF SPENDING OR WHAT'S YOUR BUDGET LIKE?

>> Cathy: T'S THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, I DON'T THINK SO.

>> THERE IS THE -- THE AUDITOR KEEPS TRACK OF US AND OCCASIONALLY CHECKS WHEN I BUY A BOB DYLAN BOOK THAT I'M NOT BUYING IT FOR MYSELF SO -- BUT, YEAH, THERE IS A BUDGET, WE GET MONEY BOTH FROM THE STATE AND THEN WE HAVE LOTS OF PRIVATE FUNDS AND THE PRIVATE FUNDS ARE USED TO BUY THE SEXIER STUFF.

>> Cathy: THE SEXIER STUFF, WHAT'S THE COOLEST MAP -- I KNOW YOU LIKE MAPS.

WHAT'S HE COOLEST MAP YOU'VE MANAGED TO ACQUIRE?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.

THERE ARE -- ACTUALLY, I WILL SAY, THERE IS A -- SOMEBODY WALKED IN ONE DAY WITH A FIVE-FOOT BY THREE-FOOT PIECE OF BUTCHER PAPER AND THEY HAD DRAWN EVERY SINGLE HOUSE IN BOHEMIAN FLATS AT THE TURN OF THE LAST SCENERY WITH ALL THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THOSE HOUSES AND THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.

AND THEN OF COURSE THERE'S 16 88 A CORN ELLIE THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL MAN OF THE YOU WERER GREAT LIKES AND MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

>> Eric: YOUR WHITE WHALES ARE THE FIRST EDITIONS OF GRATH GATHER ME -- >> IN A DUST JACKET, WE HAVE THE FIRST EDITIONS BUT NOT IN -- IN THEIR VERY ICONIC DUST JACKETS.

>> Cathy: I'M KIND OF SURPRISED BY THAT.

>> IT'S -- IT'S A LODGES STORY WITH THE GATSBY BUT YOU CAN PAY $$250,000 FOR THE FIRST EDITION IN A DUST JACKET SO I AM LIMITED BY FUNDS SOMETIMES.

>> Eric: YOU'RE RETIRED BUT I WONDER THIS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE, THAT IF -- IF YOU WOULD BE AVAILABLE IF THEY NEEDED A HIGH-PRESSURE CLOSER TO KIND OF CONSUMATE TAKE DEAL WITH SOME VALUABLE PIECE OF HISTORY?

>> I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE TO USE ME, I WOULD BE AVAILABLE, YES.

[Laughter] >> Cathy: BUT WHEN YOU ARE WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY WANT, WHAT'S YOUR ARGUMENT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE -- YOU KNOW, I DO TELL PEOPLE THAT IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME, EVERYTHING WILL COME TO -- EVERYTHING WILL WINDS UP WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AND OFTEN THAT'S THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

IN THE MEANTIME, THERE'S LOTS OF DANGERS, YOU CAN HAVE A FIRE IN YOUR HOME, YOU CAN HAVE A FLOOD, YOU CAN HAVE EVERYTHING, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING PROTECTED AND YOU WANT IT SAFE AND YOU WANT IT AVAILABLE TO SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS, IT'S GOT TO BE IN A LIBRARY.

>> Eric: THANK YOU FOR YOUR -- HOW MANY, 40 -- >> 43 SOMETHING.

>> Eric: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVES TO THE STATE.

YOU'VE BEEN INVALUABLE.

>> WELL, IT WAS AN HON YORK, IT WAS AN HONOR, SO THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: GREAT FUN TO SEE YOU AT THE LIBRARY.

♪♪ >> CATHY: MOST OF THE STATE HAS EXPERIENCED DRENCHING RAIN THIS WEEK, BUT THE AREA MOST EAGER FOR RELIEF, NORTHEAST MINNESOTA, REMAINS DRY.

WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO GROW IN AND NEAR THE BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS.

PARTICULARLY WORRISOME IS THE 40-SQUARE-MILE GREENWOOD LAKE FIRE.

THE FIRES HAVE CLOSED DOWN THE BWCA AND CAUSED SOME EVACUATIONS ALONG THE TOP OF THE GUNFLINT TRAIL.

THE TRAIL BEGINS IN GRAND MARAIS.

THAT'S WHERE JOE FRIEDRICHS WORKS.

HE'S A REPORTER FOR "WTIP, NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY" RADIO.

HE'S TALKING TO US FROM ROCKWOOD LODGE ON POPLAR LAKE, ALONG THE GUNFLINT TRAIL.

SAY, JOE, THANKS FOR JOINING US, BY THE WAY.

LET'S START WITH THE BIG FIRE.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: TELL ME ABOUT THE GREENWOOD FIRE.

HOW IS IT GOING AT THIS POINT?

IS IT CONTAINED?

>> IT IS ZERO PERCENT CONTAINED AT THIS TIME, CATHY, ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AND IT IS GOING OKAY.

TODAY ACTUALLY HAS BEEN COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING A RELATIVELY GOOD DAY FOR THE FIRE.

IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE ON POPLAR LAKE RIGHT NOW, IT HAS BEEN MOST OF THE AFTERNOON, UP THE GUNFLINT TRAIL SO AS FAR AS A GOOD DAY, TODAY WOULD BE CONSIDERED THAT FOR THE GREENWOOD FIRE BUT STILL LISTED AS ZERO PERCENT CONTAINED.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT AIR QUALITY?

>> WELL, WEDNESDAY WAS A TERRIBLE DAY, EVEN IN GRAND MARAIS, REALLY SMOKEY.

THIS IS A MASSIVE FIRE BURNING IN PROVINCIAL PARK, A 100,000 ACRE FIRE BURNING THERE SO THE SMOKE HAS BEEN ON AND OFF REALLY BAD DAYS AND SOME OKAY DAYS.

TODAY, FRIDAY, PRETTY GOOD DAY.

I MEAN WITH THE COOLER TEMPERATURES, THE RAIN, THE PRECIPITATION COMING N A STRONG EAST WINDS OFF LAKE IS SUPERIOR TODAY AND THAT'S HELPED OUT AIR QUALITY TREMENDOUSLY.

BUT THAT'S FOR US ON THE NORTH SHORE.

I KNOW THERE WERE SOME OTHER PARTS OF NONMINNESOTA TODAY THAT WITH THAT EAST WIND OVER ON THE RANGE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OVER THERE, IT WAS A SMOKEY DAY.

SO IT DEPENDS WHERE YOU'RE AT AND WHICH DIRECTION THE WINDS IS BLOWING THE SMOKE.

>> Cathy: WE'RE SEEING SOME VIDEO HERE ON THE SCREEN, JOE, FROM A CABIN-OWNER AROUND THE GREEN -- I BELIEVE THIS IS AROUND THE GREENWOODS LAKE AREA OR McDOUGAL LAKE AND IT LOOKS JUST HORRIBLE.

HOW MANY CABINS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED SO FAR?

>> WELL, THE OFFICIAL TALLY THAT THE FOREST SERVICE AROUND THE OTHER AGENCIES ARE SAYING IS 12, A DOZEN HOMES OR CABINS, THAT WAS THE COUNT BEFORE I CAME UP THE GUNFLINT TRAIL TODAY.

THERE ARE OTHER STRUCTURES, THOUGH, WOOD SHEDS AND GARAGES THAT ALSO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND HAT'S JUST THE INITIAL COUNTS.

THEY HAVE NOT NOTIFIED EVERYONE, THE LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF IS GOING THROUGH A PROCESS OF OTIFYING THE PROPERTY OWNERS BEFORE THEY MAKE THAT PUBLIC SO TERRIBLY THAT NUMBER, AGAIN, BEFORE I CAME UP THE GUNFLINT AROUND NOON WAS 12.

ERS TELL US ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF DEFENSIVE FIRES BEING USED TO CONTAIN GREENWOOD.

>> WELL, THAT'S FOREST SERVICE POLICY THAT I DON'T WANT TO WEIGH IN ON BECAUSE THAT'S NOT MY BUSINESS TO DO THAT.

I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN UTILIZING THAT TACTIC AND, ACTUALLY, I WILL SAY THAT I KNOW THEY MADE THAT PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE AS IT GOT CLOSER TO HIGHWAY 1, THAT THEY DID AN UPDATE LAST NIGHT FROM THE WOLF RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER IN FINN ISLAND AND TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRESS THEY HAD MADE USING THAT TACTIC TO SLOW IT DOWN TO TON CONNECTICUT TAKEN IT FROM JUMPING ACROSS HIGHWAY 1 NORTH.

WHY THEY DO THAT I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO COMMENT ON THAT, IT'S NOT MY BUSINESS.

>> Cathy: WE UNDERSTAND.

WHAT ABOUT CLOSURES?

AND I ASK THIS BECAUSE OF COURSE WE KNOW THE BWCA IS CLOSED TO CAMPERS AND JUST AS WE WENT ON THE AIR TONIGHT, THE DNR HAS CLOSED FOR BACK COUNTRY CAMPING CASCADE RIVER AND BEARHEAD LAKE.

WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THESE CLOSURES UP THERE, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THEM?

>> SURE.

SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL, AS WELL, CATHY, IS ANOTHER MAJOR ANNOUNCE .

FROM JUST A COUPLE HOURS BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR, SO NO BACK-COUNTRY CAMPING ON SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL, A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT FROM TODAY.

BACK COUNTRY SITES ON SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST, THIS WOULD BE A CARRIAGE SITE ON POPLAR LAKE THAT WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED UNDER THAT SO YOU CAN'T CAMP THERE.

THE ENTIRE BOUNDARY WATERS THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IS HE NATIONAL NEWS AND THE MAJOR NEWS AND IT'S IMPACTING THE OUT FITTERS.

THERE'S 50 CANOES BEHIND ME AT THE CANOE OUTFITTER BUILDING HERE ON THE RACK THAT WOULD BE ON THE WATER OR AT A CAMP SITE TONIGHT, THIS WEEKEND BEFORE LABOR DAY.

AT ALL CANOES WERE RENTED AND THERE THEY SIT RIGHT OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

>> Cathy: SO I WAS TALKING TO THE MAYOR OF ELY EARLIER THIS WEEK WHO AID, YOU KNOW, ELY HAS TAKEN AN ECONOMIC HIT BECAUSE OF THIS AND BECAUSE GRAND MARAIS IS AT THE HEAD OF THE GUNFLINT AND A MAJOR POINT FOR FOLKS, HOW ARE FOLKS IN GRAND MARAIS HANDLING SOME OF THIS?

>> WELL, GRAND MARAIS RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN MOSTLY TALKING ABOUT THE SMOKE, MAYBE THEY HAVE A PLACE ON THE GUNFLINT TRAIL OR CERTAINLY WE KNOW PEOPLE WHO LIVE UP HERE AT SEAGULL AND SAG AT THE ENDS OF THE GUNFLINT AND THE UPPER GUNFLINT WITH THAT PRE-EVACUATION STATUS AND THE BE READY IN CASE YOU NEED TO EVACUATE STATUS HAS PUT PEOPLE ON EDGE, CERTAINLY, IN PARTS OF THE GUNFLINT TRAIL AND THE TALK OF TOWN IN GRAND MARAIS BUT NOBODY ON EDGE AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, IS THE FIRE GOING O COME TO MY HOUSE EAST OF GRAND MARAIS OR IN TOWN.

IT'S MORE REACHING OUT O PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW ON THE TRAIL, THROUGHOUT INLAND PARTS OF COOKE COUNTIES AND LAKE COUNTIES, CONCERN FOR OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS INLAND BUT IN TOWN, IT'S JUST MOSTLY TALK ABOUT SMOKE AND BEING AWARE OF THE FIRES AND THE SITUATION.

>> Eric: JOE, WITH THE LENGTH OF THE FIRE SEASON, I'M WONDERING IF IT MIGHT TAKE A SUBSTANTIAL SNOWFALL TO PUT THIS TO BEDS EVENTUALLY.

>> WELL, AS I SAID, IT'S BEEN RAINY TODAY, IT'S MAKING -- A LITTLE BIT OF PRECIPITATION, IT'S NOT SOAKING INTO THE GROUNDS BUT WE'RE SET TO GET MAYBE AN INCH OF RAIN OR MORE OVER THE NEXT 24, 36 HOURS, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT DOES.

AGAIN, I'M NOT IN POSITION TO TALK ABOUT IF THAT MEANS ANY SORT OF REOPENING BECAUSE I'M JUST NOT PRIVY TO THAT BUT, YEAH, THERE'S TALK FROM FOREST SERVICE OFFICIALS WE'VE HEARD CONNIE CUMMINS, THE FOREST SUPERVISOR USE THAT TERM EXACTLY, WHEN THE SNOW FLIES.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHE'S USED AND THAT'S VERBATIM.

>> Cathy: SAY, LAST QUESTION HERE FOR YA BEFORE WE LETS YOU O AND ENJOY THE REGULARS OF YOUR NIGHT.

SOME OF THE Facebook PAGES ABOUT THE NORTH SHORE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING THE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE RESERVATIONS ON THE SHORE, UP THE GUNFLINT, SHOULD I GO, SHOULD I NOT.

WHAT ARE OFFICIALS SAYING ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, IF YOU HAVE A RESERVATION AT A LODGE OR A CABIN, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT'S STILL OKAY TO COME.

THAT'S BEEN -- THERE WAS MAYBE SOME CONFUSION AROUND THAT EARLIER IN THE WEEK, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK WHEN THAT UPPER GUNFLINT TRAIL FEDERAL LAND, DON'T USE THAT LAND WENT INTO EFFECT.

BUT WE REALLY WORKED WITH THE FOREST SERVICE TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THAT YOU CAN STILL GO TO ANY OF THE LODGES, EVEN IN THAT UPPER GUNFLINT CLOSURE AREA AND COME AND STAY.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT FEEL.

THERE IS A DIFFERENT VIBE ON THE GUNFLINT TRAIL.

WE WERE UP THERE AS I SAID MOST OF THE AFTERNOON.

IT SMELTS LIKE OCTOBER BECAUSE A LOT OF THE POPLAR AND THE BIRCH AND OTHER TREES LIKE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LEAVES BECAUSE OF THE DROUGHT, THEY DROPPED THEIR LEAVES.

AND THEN WITH THIS PRECIPITATION, IT SMELLS LIKE LATE FALL UP HERE AND IT'S QUIET, HARDLY ANY VEHICLES OUT AND ABOUT AND HERE WE RE THE WEEKEND BEFORE LABOR DAY AND IT FEELS LIKE LATE FALL.

BUT YOU CAN STILL COME, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT TYPE OF AN EXPERIENCE, PROBABLY.

>> Cathy: WE REALLY APPRECIATES YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> Eric: STAY SAFE, JOE.

>> I WILL.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

>> Cathy: THANKS, JOE.

♪ >> Cathy: HEY, IT'S MINNESOTA HISTORY TIME.

FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WE'VE ASKED YOU THE SAME TRIVIA QUESTION BECAUSE NO ONE GOT IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS ONE FINAL TIME.

WE ASKED ABOUT MINNESOTA PERFORMERS AT THE 1940 WORLD'S FAIR IN NEW YORK CITY.

WE TOLD YOU TWO GROUPS WENT TO NEW YORK FROM MINNESOTA THAT SUMMER.

THEY WERE AMATEURS AND MADE QUITE A SPLASH IN THE BIG APPLE, EVEN APPEARING ON NATIONAL RADIO SHOWS.

OUR QUESTION WAS: WHAT TWO MINNESOTA PERFORMING GROUPS PLAYED THE NEW YORK WORLD FAIR IN JUNE, 1940?

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BURY THE LEDE HERE.

OUR VOICEMAIL FINALLY DID RECEIVE A RIGHT ANSWER.

NO, IT WASN'T THE ANDREW SISTERS OR THE GUMM SISTERS, OR WHOPPIE JOHN'S POLKA BAND.

FOR THE RIGHT ANSWER, LET'S GRATEFULLY HEAR FROM BIG "ALMANAC" FAN, MARIE, IN NORTH DAKOTA.

>> Cathy: THE SOUTH HIGH BAND, GO TIGERS.

THANKS, MARIE.

YES, IT WAS THE MINNEAPOLIS NORTH AND MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BANDS THAT JOURNEYED TO THE WORLD'S FAIR IN NEW YORK IN THE SUMMER OF 1940.

THE BAND ACTIVITIES WERE BIG NEWS BACK HOME AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THESE NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS.

BY THE WAY, BEULAH IS IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA, ABOUT 500 MILES WEST OF THE TWIN CITIES.

MARIE WATCHES "ALMANAC" ON THE STATEWIDE NORTH DAKOTA PBS SYSTEM, PRAIRIE PUBLIC TV.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

ARE YOU WATCHING US RIGHT NOW FROM FURTHER AWAY THAN MARIE?

WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU... 651-229-1430, OR DROP US AN EMAIL AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

FOR SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC, SINGER SONGWRITER TOM T. HALL DIED HIS WEEK.

HE COMPOSED THE TUNE "PAMELA BROWN" BACK IN THE 1970S.

LEO KOTTKE PERFORMED THE TUNE ON TWIN CITIES PBS BACK IN 1983.

IT'S ONE OF THE GEMS FROM OUR ARCHIVES.

WATCH AND LISTEN AS WE ROLL THE CLOSING CREDITS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪ WONDER WHERE I'D BE TODAY IF SHE HAD LOVED ME TO PROBABLY BE DRIVING KIDS TO SCHOOL ♪ ♪ I GUESS I OWE IT ALL TO PAMELA BROWN ♪♪ ALL OF MY GOOD TIMES, ALL OF MY RUNNING AROUND] ♪ ONE OF THESE DAYS I MIGHT BE IN YOUR TOWN AND I GUESS I OWE IT ALL TO PAMELA BROWN?

SEEING SEEN THE LIGHTS OF CITIES AND I'VE BEEN INSIDE THEIR DOORS ♪ I'VE SAILED TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND WALKED UPON THEIR SHORES ♪ I GUESS THE GUY SHE MARRIED WAS THE BEST PART OF MY LUCK ♪ SHE DUG HIM 'CAUSE HE DROVE A PICK-UP TRUCK ♪ ♪ I GUESS I OWE IT ALL TO PAMELA BROWN ALL OF MY GOOD TIMES AND ALL MY RUNNING AROUND ♪ ONE OF THESE DAYS I MIGHT -- I MIGHT BE IN YOUR TOWN ♪ ♪ AND I GUESS I OWE IT ALL TO PAMELA DROWN ♪♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION, WORKING TO STRENGHTEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

"ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.